Jon Rahm chased down Brooks Koepka on Sunday at Augusta National to win the Masters, his second major victory.

The post Vamos! Jon Rahm storms back to win the Masters and claim second major title appeared first on Golf.

Jon Rahm chased down Brooks Koepka on Sunday at Augusta National to win the Masters, his second major victory.

The post Vamos! Jon Rahm storms back to win the Masters and claim second major title appeared first on Golf.

Brooks Koepka set the early pace. Jordan Spieth charged up the leaderboard. Phil Mickelson turned back the clock. But in the end, none of it mattered.

Jon Rahm, the 28-year-old from Basque Country with more talent than just about any golfer in his generation, erased a four-shot Sunday deficit to win the coveted green jacket at Augusta National. Rahm posted a final-round 69 to claim the four-shot victory over Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson for his second major title.

The Spaniard’s Masters victory comes on the 30th-year anniversary of fellow countryman Jose Maria Olazabal’s first title at Augusta National, and the 40th anniversary of his hero, Seve Ballesteros, winning in 1983. Spain now has four green-jacket winners, with Sergio Garcia also winning in 2017.

When Rahm arrived at the course Sunday morning, Koepka held a four-shot advantage. Nasty weather on Friday and Saturday delayed the action for much of the second and third rounds, washing out much of the second and third rounds. With sunshine in the Sunday forecast, it was all but certain the there would be no Monday finish, but there was plenty of golf to play. Rahm and Koepka — in the final pairing — had a 29-hole marathon ahead.

It didn’t take long for Rahm to seize the momentum. With his first stroke of the day, he poured in a birdie on the 7th green. When Koepka couldn’t hole his lengthy par putt, the lead was cut in half. The remainder of Round 3 was a slog for both men (neither made a birdie on the back nine), and when they broke for lunch, the lead sat at two.

Koepka remained in neutral to begin the final round, while Rahm plodded around the outward half. He made two birdies and one bogey, making the turn in 35, while Koepka posted a disastrous 39 to fall two back.

Elsewhere on the course, the roars were abundant. In the 12:49 p.m. pairing, Mickelson and Jordan Spieth caught fire. Spieth, who was even par through 50 holes for the week, found his swagger late in the morning, and by the time he came to the 18th, he sat at eight under. Mickelson had a similarly astounding charge. The 52-year-old posted eight birdies and one bogey alongside Spieth, posting the the clubhouse lead as the final pairing turned to the back nine.

In the end, none of it mattered.

Despite having to chase down the baddest major player of the last decade, and being pursued by two green jacket winners, Rahm never flinched. His back nine was a clinic in course management when protecting a lead — especially at Augusta — and his advantage never slipped below two. By the time he made the final walk up the hill on No. 18, he’d grown the lead to four.

Then, Rahm embarked on a walk he’ll never forget. Despite pulling his drive into the trees and needing to hit a provisional, the result was never in doubt. Doing his best impression of Ballesteros, Spain’s greatest major champion, Rahm was able to save par. When he holed the final putt, he triumphantly raised his arms over his head and then buried his face in his hands.

Spain has its next great major champion.

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